Obama calls Putin, proposes solution to Ukraine dispute

10:57 AM,
Mar. 7, 2014

President Barack Obama

Written by

David Jackson
USA TODAY

President Barack Obama urged Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a one-hour phone call Thursday to pursue a diplomatic solution to his military incursion into Crimea, including direct talks between Russia and Ukraine with outside observers.

Obama also proposed a pullback of troops to pre-existing Russian bases, international monitors to protect the rights of all populations in Ukraine, and support for new Ukrainian elections in May, the White House said in a statement about the conversation with Putin.

"President Obama indicated that there is a way to resolve the situation ...